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Need help rebuilding a Detroit locker

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by smiggley, Sep 2, 2010.

  1. smiggley

    smiggley Member

    Anyone have any info on how to remove and rebuild a Detroit locker. I think mine is going out.
    Im hearing some nasty scraping sounds coming from the rear end.
    I have a dana 44 rear axle with full floater kit. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
    Im also looking for a place to get parts for the Detroit.
    Do I need any special tools to get the locker out? It looks like after I pull the axles I can just remove the 4 bolts and out she goes?
    Also do I need to reshim or anything like that for the ring and pinion?
     
  2. grannyscj

    grannyscj Headed to the Yukon

    You may need a case spreader. Dana axles use shims to set preload so it'll be very tight. They are easy to make.
    Make sure you keep the shims together and put them back on the same side of the carrier. As long as you don't change anything in the R&P setup (shims) you'll be good to go.:v6:
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2010
  3. Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    You shouldn't need to pull the bearings on the Detroit, so you don't have to worry about the shims. I've never needed a case spreader and I've done several D44's and D30's. It may be tight, but it will come out. I use two prybars to pop them out. Be ready when it comes out as they're not light. I use a plastic dead blow hammer (Harbor Freight) to put them back in.
     
  4. smiggley

    smiggley Member

    has anyone rebuilt the detroit locker? Ive heard they can be rebuilt.
     
  5. Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Do you know for a fact that you have a Detroit? They don't really wear out, they usually break instead. Usually as a result breaking an axle under power. Limited slip diff's do require a rebuild as most have some sort of clutches or friction discs that will wear. Could it be that yo have a Powerlok or a Tracloc?
     
  6. smiggley

    smiggley Member

    Yeah I have a Detroit locker. Axles are fine. I pulled them out and some metal shavings were on the tip of the axle but after I cleaned it off the axle was in great shape. Ring and pinion looks fine. What I am getting is a scraping/ clicking sound but more of a scraping sound from inside the diff. It comes and goes. Happens when I put a load on my jeep. Give it gas. Let off gas and it goes away. Since I have a full floater kit I removed one axle at a time and run it and no sound. Kinda seems to lead me to think that its in the Detroit.
     
  7. Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Seems logical. I'd say you need to take it out and diagnose it. You can probably get parts from R&P, Randy's Ring & Pinion, West Coast Differentials. I see your location is "in your Jeep". Where might that be?
     
  8. smiggley

    smiggley Member

    I live in far norcal
     
  9. Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    I did a run with the Black Sheep up there years ago. Before 9/11
     
  10. smiggley

    smiggley Member

    ok so i took out the locker today and I disassembled the locker. Nothing too bad. I thought I was going to see something real obviously wrong but I really didnt see anything bad except one part that I cannot seem to find anywhere on the net. I took a pic of it but im not sure as how to post on this forum. Basically its the part that is in the middle of the locker. Inside the spider part where both axles come together. The part looks like its bent or on an offset. Im not sure if its supposed to be like that? Lemme know if the pics work
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2010
  11. jeep67

    jeep67 Member

    Looks a bit bent to me.
     
  12. jeep67

    jeep67 Member

    I looked at my detroit locker manual and it doesn't show a part like that in the schematic for a full-case locker. Do you know the history of your locker? Do you think it is possible that a plug was installed making the locker equal to a spool? Shoot me a pm with your email and I'll shoot you back a pdf of the locker manual.